Reconfigurable data cartridge import/export drawer

ABSTRACT

Data cartridge exchange apparatus for use in a data storage system may include a moveable cartridge storage array having at least a first data cartridge storage location and a second data cartridge storage location. The first data cartridge storage location is operatively associated with the second data cartridge storage location so that the first data cartridge storage location is independently moveable with respect to the second data cartridge storage location when the second data cartridge storage location is accessible by the data storage system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/678,866,filed on Oct. 3, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/837,601, filed on Apr. 18, 2001, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,648,428, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by referencefor all that they disclose.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates in general to data cartridge exchange systems fordata storage systems, and more specifically to a data storage systemhaving a reconfigurable data cartridge exchange drawer.

BACKGROUND

Many different types of data storage systems exist and are being used tostore data cartridges at known locations and to retrieve those datacartridges from the storage locations so that data may be written to orread from those data cartridges. Such data storage systems are oftenreferred to as “jake box” data storage systems, particularly if they canaccommodate a large number of individual data cartridges.

A typical data storage system may include one or more different types ofcartridge receiving devices for holding the various data cartridges. Forexample, one type of cartridge receiving device may comprise a cartridgestorage rack or “magazine.” The cartridge storage racks or magazinesusually include cartridge storage slots which serve as storage locationsfor the data cartridges. The various cartridge storage racks ormagazines of the data storage system are commonly arranged so that theyform one or more vertical and/or horizontal stacks, although otherconfigurations are possible. Another type of cartridge receiving devicemay comprise a cartridge read/write device. The cartridge read/writedevice may be located adjacent a cartridge magazine, although thecartridge read/write device may be positioned at any convenientlocation.

The data storage system may also be provided with a cartridge handlingsystem for transporting the data cartridges between the variouscartridge receiving devices, e.g., between the cartridge storage racksand the cartridge read/write devices. A typical cartridge handlingsystem may include a cartridge access device for accessing the variousdata cartridges contained in the cartridge receiving devices, as well asa positioning system for moving the cartridge access device among thevarious cartridge receiving devices contained in the data storagesystem.

Data storage systems of the type described above are usually connectedto a host computer system (not shown) which may access or store data onthe data cartridges. For example, if certain data contained on aparticular data cartridge is desired, the host computer system willissue commands to a control system associated with the data storagesystem. In response to those commands, the control system will actuatethe positioning system which moves the cartridge access device along thecartridge storage racks or magazines until the cartridge access deviceis positioned adjacent the desired data cartridge. The cartridge accessdevice may then remove the desired cartridge from the cartridge storagerack and carry it to the cartridge read/write device. Once properlypositioned adjacent the cartridge read/write device, the cartridgeaccess device may insert the selected data cartridge into the cartridgeread/write device so that the host computer may thereafter read datafrom or write data to the selected data cartridge. After the read/writeoperation is complete, the cartridge access device may remove the datacartridge from the cartridge read/write device and return it to itsappropriate location in the cartridge storage rack.

It is often necessary or desirable for a system operator to periodicallyaccess one or more of the data cartridges contained within such a datastorage system. For example, it may be necessary for the system operatorto remove certain of the data cartridges from time to time if theybecome filled with data that is to be archived at another location. Thesystem operator may then replace the filled data cartridges with blankor empty data cartridges. In another situation, the system operator maydesire to remove one or more of the data cartridges and replace it orthem with a substitute data cartridge or cartridges containing differentdata.

In order to accommodate the foregoing needs, many data storage systemsare provided with an access panel to allow the system operator to accessthe data cartridges stored within the data system. Although such anarrangement does allow the system operator to access the datacartridges, it is usually difficult and cumbersome to implement inpractice. For example, since the access panel needs to be removed inorder to access the data cartridges, the data storage system must betemporarily shut-down or suspended in order to prevent injury to thesystem operator should the cartridge access device move while the systemoperator's hand is inside the data storage system. Another difficulty isthat it is often difficult for the system operator to locate theparticular data cartridges that are to be replaced. Still anotherdisadvantage is that once the access panel has been replaced, it isnecessary for the data storage system to re-inventory all the datacartridges contained therein. Such re-inventory processes are timeconsuming and difficult to justify, particularly if only one cartridgehas been replaced. Nevertheless, the data storage system mustre-inventory all of the data cartridges within the data storage systembefore it can be returned to service.

Partly in an effort to solve some of the aforementioned problems, datastorage systems have been developed that include extendable drawers thatcan be opened to allow the system operator to access the data cartridgesstored in the data storage systems. Such an extendable drawer is usefulin that it allows the system operator to access one or more datacartridges without the need to remove a separate access panel.

Unfortunately, most drawer type of data cartridge exchange systems arenot without their disadvantages. For example, if the system operatoronly wishes to access a data cartridge positioned near the front of thedrawer, the system operator must nevertheless move all of the datacartridges within the drawer. In other words, by opening the drawer, thesystem operator renders all of the data cartridges within the drawerinaccessible to the cartridge handling system of the data storagesystem. Indeed, the data storage system will not be able to access anyof the data cartridges within the drawer until the system operatorfinishes accessing the exposed data cartridges and closes the drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, data cartridge exchange apparatus for use in a datastorage system may include a moveable cartridge storage array having atleast a first data cartridge storage location and a second datacartridge storage location. The first data cartridge storage location isoperatively associated with the second data cartridge storage locationso that the first data cartridge storage location is independentlymoveable with respect to the second data cartridge storage location whenthe second data cartridge storage location is accessible by the datastorage system.

One embodiment of a data storage system may include a cartridge handlingsystem. A fixed cartridge storage array defines at least one datacartridge storage location and is mounted within the data storage systemso that the data cartridge storage location can be accessed by thecartridge handling system. A moveable cartridge storage array defines atleast a first data cartridge storage location and a second datacartridge storage location. The first data cartridge storage location isindependently moveable with respect to the second data cartridge storagelocation so that the first data cartridge storage location can be movedwith respect to the second data cartridge storage location between afirst position and a second position. The moveable cartridge storagearray is moveable with respect to the data storage system between aretracted position and an extended position so that at least the secondcartridge storage location can be accessed by the cartridge handlingsystem when the moveable cartridge storage array is in the retractedposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention areshown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data storage system having a datacartridge exchange apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the data storage system shown in FIG. 1illustrating a cartridge handling system that may be used to access thedata cartridges, the internal arrangements of the data cartridge storagelocations, and the data cartridge exchange apparatus in a firstconfiguration;

FIG. 3 is another plan view of the data storage system shown in FIG. 1illustrating the drawer fully opened and the data cartridge exchangeapparatus in the first configuration;

FIG. 4 is yet another plan view of the data storage system shown in FIG.1 illustrating the data cartridge exchange apparatus in the secondconfiguration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge handling system shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cartridge access device that may beused in the cartridge handling system shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer, drawer mountingsystem, and cartridge magazine reference rails of the data cartridgeexchange apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mounting system that may be used toslidably mount the drawer to the data storage system;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first guide rail of the mountingsystem shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third guide rail of the mountingsystem shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the second and fourth guide rails of themounting system shown in FIG. 8 with portions of the bearing tracksbroken away to show the U-shaped bearing members mounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the third guide rail showing the relativepositions of the U-shaped bearings thereon;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the second and fourthguide rail taken along the line 13—13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the third guide railtaken along the line 14—14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an end view in elevation of the guide rails comprising themounting system;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view in elevation of the of the guide railscomprising the mounting system taken along the line 16—16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a lock assembly that may be used tosecure the first guide rail to the second guide rail;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an arm and finger assembly that may beused to secure the first guide rail to the second guide rail in a secondembodiment of the data cartridge exchange apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a side view in elevation of a lock assembly that may be usedto engage the first and second cartridge magazine trays of the drawer ina third embodiment of the data cartridge exchange apparatus;

FIG. 20 is a side view in elevation of a lock assembly that may be usedto secure the drawer in the retracted position within the data storagesystem; and

FIG. 21 is a side view in elevation showing the engagement of thecartridge magazine and the cartridge magazine reference rails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 according to one preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown in a first configuration 12in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in a second configuration 14 in FIG. 4 and isdescribed herein as it could be used in conjunction with a data storagesystem 16 (FIG. 1). The data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 when in thesecond configuration 14 allows a system operator (not shown) to accessat least one data cartridge 18 stored in a drawer 20 without having torender all of the other data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20inaccessible to a cartridge handling system 22 (FIGS. 2 and 5) of thedata storage system 16. Alternatively, the system operator may use thedata cartridge exchange apparatus 10 in the first configuration 12 toaccess all of the data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20. Thus, thedata cartridge exchange apparatus 10 not only provides a convenient andeffective way for the system operator to deposit and withdraw selecteddata cartridges 18 into and from the data storage system 16, but it alsoprovides the system operator with the option of accessing some of thedata cartridges 18 within the drawer 20 without having to render all ofthe data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20 inaccessible to thecartridge handling system 22 when doing so.

With reference now primarily to FIGS. 2 and 7, the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10 utilized in one preferred embodiment may comprisea drawer 20 that defines a plurality of data cartridge storagelocations, such as first and second data cartridge storage locations 24and 26. Each of the data cartridge storage locations (e.g., 24 and 26)may be configured to receive one or more data cartridges 18, which inone preferred embodiment, may be contained within one or more cartridgemagazines 28. In the embodiment shown and described herein, the firstand second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 of drawer 20 areconfigured to receive first and second cartridge magazines 30 and 32,respectively, each of which is configured to receive one or more datacartridges 18. Alternatively, and as will be described in greater detailbelow, the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26defined by the drawer 20 may instead be configured to directly acceptone or more data cartridges 18 without the need for separate cartridgemagazines 28.

The first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 may beoperatively associated so that they may be moved along with each otheras a single unit. The first and second data cartridge storage locations24 and 26, however, may also be movable with respect to each other sothat the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 defines a plurality ofconfigurations (e.g., the first configuration 12 and the secondconfiguration 14). That is, in the embodiment shown and describedherein, the system operator may reconfigure the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10 by moving the first data cartridge storage location 24either toward or away from the second data cartridge storage location26. For example, the system operator may position the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 adjacent one another therebydefining the first configuration 12 for the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10. See FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. Alternatively, the system operatormay separate the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24and 26 by a spaced distance 34 thereby defining the second configuration14 for the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10. See FIG. 4.

The drawer 20 may be mounted to the data storage system 16 by a mountingsystem 36. As will be explained in greater detail below, the mountingsystem 36 may comprise a first guide rail 38 mounted to the first datacartridge storage location 24, a second guide rail 40 mounted to thesecond data cartridge storage location 26, a third guide rail 42 sizedto engage the first and second guide rails 38 and 40, and a fourth guiderail 44 mounted to the data storage system 16. See FIGS. 7–16. The firstand second guide rails 38 and 40 may each be mounted in slidingengagement with the third guide rail 42, which in turn may be mounted insliding engagement with the fourth guide rail 44. The sliding engagementof the various rails 38, 40, 42, and 44 allows the drawer 20 (i.e., bothdata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26) to be slidably moved betweena retracted position (FIG. 2) and an extended or open position (FIG. 3).More specifically, the sliding engagement of the various rails 38, 40,42, and 44 allows the first data cartridge storage location 24 to beslidably moved between a first position 46 (FIG. 2) and a secondposition 48 (FIG. 3) generally in the directions indicated by arrows 54and 56. The sliding engagement of the various rails 38, 40, 42, and 44also allows the second data cartridge storage location 26 to be slidablymoved between a third position 50 (FIG. 2) and a fourth position 52(FIG. 3) generally in the directions indicated by arrows 54 and 56. Asshown in FIG. 2, the first and third positions 46 and 50 may each belocated within the data storage system 16 so that the data cartridges 18within the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26are within the data storage system 16 when the first and second datacartridge locations 24 and 26 are in their respective first and thirdpositions 46 and 50. The second and fourth positions 48 and 52 may belocated outside the data storage system 16 so that the data cartridges18 within the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and26 are exposed to the system operator when the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in their respective second andfourth positions 48 and 52. See FIG. 3.

To allow the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26to either be moved along with each other (i.e., as a single unit) orindividually with respect to the other (i.e., as separate units), thefirst and second guide rails 38 and 40 may be releasably engaged withone another. That is, the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 move together as one unit when the guide rails 38and 40 are engaged but may be moved with respect to each other when theguide rails 38 and 40 are disengaged and the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are not otherwise engaged.Alternatively, the data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 themselvesmay be releasably engaged with one another instead of being engaged byway of the engagement of the first guide rail 38 with the second guiderail 40.

In one preferred embodiment, a lock assembly 58 (FIG. 17) may beprovided that is usable to secure the first guide rail 38 to the secondguide rail 40. With the first and second guide rails 38 and 40 securedto each other by the lock assembly 58, the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 may be moved as a single unitthereby allowing both data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 to bepositioned outside the data storage system 16 when the drawer 20 isfully opened. However, when the first and second guide rails 38 and 40are not secured to each other and the first and second data cartridgestorage locations 24 and 26 are not otherwise engaged, the first datacartridge storage location 24 may be moved outside the data storagesystem 16 while the second data cartridge storage location 26 remainswithin the data storage system 16. Consequently, the system operatorwill be able to access the data cartridges 18 positioned within thefirst data cartridge storage location 24 without rendering the datacartridges 18 within the second data cartridge storage location 26inaccessible to the data storage system 16.

It is generally preferred, but not required, that the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10 be provided with a drawer lock assembly orapparatus 60 (FIG. 20) that may be used either to hold the drawer 20 inthe fully retracted position (i.e., with the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 in their respective first andthird positions 46 and 50) or to hold the second data cartridge storagelocation 26 stationary in its third position 50 when the first datacartridge storage location 24 is being moved. By keeping the second datacartridge storage location 26 stationary in its third position 50, thecartridge handling system 22 is able to access the data cartridges 18within the second data cartridge storage location 26 even if the systemoperator has moved the first data cartridge storage location 24 and isaccessing the data cartridges 18 therein. See FIG. 4.

The data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 may be used as follows to allowthe system operator to access various data cartridges 18 containedwithin the data storage system 16. Consider, for example, a situationwherein the data storage system 16 has been provided with a plurality ofdata cartridges 18. During normal operation, the drawer 20 may remain inthe fully retracted or closed position shown in FIG. 2, thereby allowingthe cartridge handling system 22 internal to the data storage system 16to access all of the data cartridges 18 contained therein. If the needarises for the system operator to access all of the data cartridges 18within the fully closed drawer 20 (FIG. 2) (i.e., the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in their respective firstand third positions 46 and 50) and assuming that the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are engaged (e.g., guide rail38 is secured to guide rail 40 by the lock assembly 58 shown in FIG.17), the system operator may pull on a front panel 62 of drawer 20 tomove the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26outside the data storage system 16 and thereby expose the datacartridges 18 within the first and second data cartridge locations 24and 26. See FIG. 3. If the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 wasprovided with an optional drawer lock assembly 60 (FIG. 20), the drawerlock assembly 60 would first have to unlock the drawer 20 before thedrawer 20 was moved.

Once the drawer 20 has been opened or extended, the system operator mayaccess the exposed data cartridges 18 for the exchange, removal, orreplacement of the same. While the drawer 20 is in the extendedposition, the data storage system 16 may remain operable and thecartridge handling system 22 may continue to access the data cartridges18 stored in a “fixed” cartridge storage array 66. However, since all ofthe data cartridges 18 within drawer 20 were moved when the systemoperator opened the drawer 20, the fixed cartridge storage array 66comprises only those data cartridges 18 not stored in drawer 20. Inother words, the cartridge handling system 22 will not access any of thedata cartridges 18 within the drawer 20.

After the system operator has finished accessing the exposed datacartridges 18, the system operator may push on the front panel 62 ofdrawer 20 to return the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 to their respective first and third positions 46 and50 within the data storage system 16. See FIG. 2. The drawer lockassembly 60 (FIG. 20) may then lock the drawer 20 in the fully closedposition (i.e., lock the data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 intheir respective first and third positions 46 and 50). In this example,the data storage system 16 would need to re-inventory all of the datacartridges 18 within the drawer 20.

Assuming now that the system operator wants to access just the datacartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location 24, thefirst data cartridge storage location 24 would first have to bedisengaged from the second data cartridge storage location 26. Forexample, in one embodiment, the lock assembly 58 (FIG. 17) would firsthave release the first guide rail 38 from the second guide rail 40before the first data cartridge storage location 24 is moved. Morespecifically, and as will be explained in greater detail below, a lockcontrol system 220 of lock assembly 58 may be instructed by a hostcomputer system, a control system contained within the data storagesystem 16, and/or the system operator via a control panel 64 of the datastorage system 16 to release the first and second guide rails 38 and 40.In response to the instructions, the lock control system may actuate alock actuator 216 to release the first and second guide rails 38 and 40.Once the data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are disengaged, thesystem operator may pull on the front panel 62 to move the first datacartridge storage location 24 outside the data storage system 16 so thatthe data cartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location24 are exposed to the system operator. See FIG. 4.

As the system operator is accessing the data cartridges 18 within thefirst data cartridge storage location 24, the data storage system 16 mayremain operable and the cartridge handling system 22 may continue toaccess the data cartridges 18 stored in the fixed cartridge storagearray 66. In this example, the second data cartridge storage location 26remained stationary in its third position 46 as did the data cartridges18 therein when the first data cartridge storage location 26 was moved.Consequently, the cartridge handling system 22 may continue to accessthe data cartridges 18 within the second data cartridge storage location26, which may now be said to comprise a portion of the fixed cartridgestorage array 66. In other words, only those data cartridges 18 thatwere moved and made accessible to the system operator (i.e., the datacartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location 24) wererendered inaccessible to the cartridge handling system 22.

After the user has finished accessing the first data cartridge storagelocation 24, the system operator may push on the front panel 62 toreturn the first data cartridge storage location 24 to its firstposition 46. See FIG. 2. The lock assembly 58 may then be used to securethe first guide rail 38 to the second guide rail 40. That is, in oneembodiment, the lock control system 220 of lock assembly 58 may byinstructed by the host computer system, the control system containedwithin the data storage system 16, and/or the system operator via thecontrol panel 64 to secure the first guide rail 38 to the second guiderail 40. The lock control system 220 may then, in response, actuate thelock actuator 216 to secure the first guide rail 38 to the second guiderail 40 so that the first data cartridge storage location 24 may laterbe moved together with the second data cartridge storage location 26and/or so that the first data cartridge storage location 24 is securedin its first position 46 by way of the drawer lock assembly 60 securingthe second data cartridge storage location 26 in its third position 50.In this example, the data storage system 16 would need to re-inventoryonly the data cartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storagelocation 24.

It should be noted that any of the data cartridges 18 contained withinthe data storage system 16 may be accessed via the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10. For example, data cartridges 18 stored in thecartridge magazines 28 that are positioned in the fixed cartridgestorage array 66 (FIG. 3) located opposite the drawer 20 also may beaccessed by instructing the cartridge handling system 22 to move theselected data cartridges 18 from the fixed cartridge storage array 66 toa “movable” cartridge storage array 68 (e.g., the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 when they are engaged areconfigured or engaged to be moved along with each other). After theselected data cartridges 18 have been transferred from the fixedcartridge storage array 66 to the movable cartridge storage array 68,the system operator may access the transferred data cartridges 18 in themanner already described.

A significant advantage of the present invention is that the datacartridge exchange apparatus 10 allows a system operator to access oneor more of the data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20 (e.g., the datacartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location 24)without rendering all of the data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20(e.g., the data cartridges 18 within the second data cartridge storagelocation 26) inaccessible to the cartridge handling system 22.

Having briefly described the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10, aswell as some of its more significant features and advantages, thevarious embodiments of the data cartridge exchange apparatus accordingto the present invention will now be described in detail. However,before proceeding with the description, it should be noted that the datacartridge exchange apparatus 10 according to the present invention maybe utilized in any of a wide range of data storage systems now known orthat may be developed in the future for storing and accessing one ormore data cartridges therein. Accordingly, the present invention shouldnot be regarded as limited to the particular data storage system 16shown and described herein. It should also be noted that while the datacartridge exchange apparatus 10 is shown and described herein as itcould be used to store and retrieve magnetic data cartridges 18 having astandard size and configuration (e.g., digital linear tape or “DLT”cartridges), it is not limited to any particular type or style of datacartridge. Indeed, the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 according tothe present invention could be used with any type of data storage devicecomprising any type of data storage medium now known or that may bedeveloped in the future. Consequently, the present invention should notbe regarded as limited to use with the particular type and style of datacartridge 18 shown and described herein.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, one embodiment of the datacartridge exchange apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as it may be used ina data storage system 16 of the type used to store and access largeamounts of data contained on one or more data cartridges 18. Asmentioned earlier, the data storage system 16 may comprise any of a widerange of data storage systems now known in the art or that may bedeveloped in the future for storing and accessing one or more datacartridges. Even though data storage systems are well-known in the art,a brief description of the data storage system 16 will be given in orderto provide a more complete understanding of one environment in which maybe used the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 2 and 5, the data storage system 16 inwhich may be used the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 may comprisea main housing or chassis 70 configured to hold the various componentsof the data storage system 16, such as the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10, one or more cartridge receiving devices 72 (e.g., acartridge magazine 28 or a cartridge read/write device 74) and thecartridge handling system 22. The housing 70 may also be adapted toreceive any of a wide range of other components or devices (e.g.,control systems, power supplies, etc.) well-known in the art and thatmay be required for the operation of the data storage system 16.

The data storage system 16 may be provided with the cartridge handlingsystem 22 to transfer data cartridges 18 between one or more of thecartridge receiving devices 72, such as one or more cartridge magazines28 and one or more cartridge read/write devices 74. The variouscartridge receiving devices 72 may be positioned at various locationswithin the data storage system 16 so that they define a generallyU-shaped configuration, as best seen in FIG. 2, although otherconfigurations are possible. The cartridge handling system 22 maycomprise a generally rectangularly shaped structure having a pair ofopposed side portions 76 and 78 and an end portion 80. The fixedcartridge storage array 66 may be positioned adjacent the first sideportion 76 of the cartridge handling system 22. See FIG. 3. The fixedcartridge storage array 66 may comprise any of a wide range of devicessuitable for receiving one or more data cartridges 18. By way ofexample, in one preferred embodiment, the fixed cartridge storage array66 may comprise a pair of cartridge magazines 28, each of which isconfigured to hold a plurality of data cartridges 18. In an alternativeembodiment, the fixed cartridge storage array 66 may be replaced by asecond drawer (not shown). Such an alternative configuration would allowthe data cartridges 18 positioned adjacent the first side portion 76 tobe accessed in substantially the same manner as the data cartridges 18contained in the drawer 20 adjacent the opposed side portion 78.

The drawer 20 comprising the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 may bemounted adjacent the second side portion 78 of the cartridge handlingsystem 22. The drawer 20 may be configured to receive at least one datacartridge 18. By way of example, in one preferred embodiment, the drawer20 is configured to receive a pair of cartridge magazines 28 (e.g.,first and second magazines 30 and 32), each of which may be configuredto hold a plurality of data cartridges 18. The drawer 20 and the datacartridges 18 stored therein together define the movable cartridgestorage array 68 (FIG. 3) when the first and second data cartridgestorage locations 24 and 26 are engaged. That is, in one embodiment, themovable cartridge storage array 68 includes both the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 when the first guide rail 38is secured to the second guide rail 40 by the lock assembly 58. However,the movable cartridge storage array 68 may only include the first datacartridge storage location 24 if the first and second guide rails 38 are40 are not secured to one another and the first and second datacartridge locations 24 and 26 are not otherwise engaged. A pair ofcartridge read/write devices 74 may be positioned adjacent the endportion 80 of the cartridge handling system 22 in the manner best seenin FIG. 2.

The cartridge handling system 22 may further include a cartridge accessdevice 88 that is best seen in FIG. 6. The cartridge access device 88may comprise a portion of a cartridge positioning system 90 which movesthe cartridge access device 88 to various positions (e.g., 92, 92′, 92″)along the various cartridge receiving devices 72 so that the cartridgeaccess device 88 may access the data cartridges 18 contained therein.The cartridge access device 88 may also comprise a cartridge engagingassembly (not shown) suitable for loading and retrieving the datacartridges 18 into and from the various cartridge receiving devices 72.That is, the cartridge engaging assembly contained within the cartridgeaccess device 88 is adapted to engage a data cartridge 18 contained in acartridge receiving device 72 and to draw the data cartridge 18 into thecartridge access device 88. The cartridge engaging assembly is alsoadapted to load or insert the data cartridge 18 into a cartridgereceiving device 72, e.g., either the cartridge magazines 28 or thecartridge read/write device 74, as the case may be. Stated simply, then,the cartridge engaging assembly is used to retrieve data cartridges 18from, and insert them into, the various cartridge receiving devices 72.The cartridge access device 88, which includes the cartridge engagingassembly, is used to transport the data cartridges 18 to desiredlocations within the data storage system 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the cartridge access device 88 maybe moved by an actuator system 98 along a lower U-shaped guide member orchannel 84 and an upper U-shaped guide member or channel (not shown)provided on a respective lower and upper plate 82 and 86 of thecartridge handling system 22 in a generally U-shaped path 96 so that thecartridge access device 88 may access the data cartridges 18 containedin the various cartridge receiving devices 72. In one preferredembodiment, the actuator system 98 may comprise a rack and pinion drivesystem having a substantially continuous lower gear rack 100 provided onthe lower plate 82 at a position adjacent the lower U-shaped guidemember 84. Accordingly, the lower gear rack 100 defines a substantiallycontinuous, U-shaped member. An upper gear rack (not shown) may beprovided on the upper plate 86 at a position adjacent the upper U-shapedguide member and may also define a substantially continuous, U-shapedmember. A lower pinion gear 102 may be mounted to the cartridge accessdevice 88 so that it engages the U-shaped lower gear rack 100. A pair oflower bearing members 104, 106 mounted to the cartridge access device 88are configured to be received by the lower U-shaped guide member or slot84. The cartridge access device 88 may also be provided with a pair ofupper bearing members 108, 110 and an upper pinion gear 112 which engagethe upper U-shaped guide member and the upper U-shaped gear rack,respectively. A pinion drive assembly 114 mounted to the cartridgeaccess device 88 is used to rotate the lower and upper pinion gears 102,112 thereby moving the cartridge access device 88 along the lower guidemember 84 and the upper guide member, following the generally U-shapedpath 96. See FIG. 2.

The data storage system 16 may be connected to a host computer system(not shown) that issues commands to a control system (also not shown)contained within the data storage system 16. For example, in oneoperational sequence, the control system in response to commands fromthe computer system actuates the cartridge positioning system 90 whichmoves the cartridge access device 88 along the cartridge magazines 28until it is positioned adjacent the desired data cartridge 18. Thecartridge engaging assembly then removes the data cartridge 18 from thecartridge magazine 28 and draws it into cartridge access device 88. Thecartridge access device 88 then transports the data cartridge 18 to thecartridge read/write device 74. The data cartridge 18 is inserted intothe cartridge read/write device 74 so that the host computer maythereafter read data from or write data to the data cartridge 18. Afterthe read/write operation is complete, the cartridge engaging assemblyremoves the data cartridge 18 from the cartridge read/write device 74and draws it back into the cartridge access device 88 so that the datacartridge 18 may be returned to its appropriate location in thecartridge magazine 28.

Regardless of the particular type of data storage system 16 in which thedata cartridge exchange apparatus 10 is used, the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10 according to the present invention may comprisethe drawer 20 that is configured to receive one or more data cartridges18. See FIGS. 2 and 7. The arrangement is such that the drawer 20comprises the movable cartridge storage array 68 (FIG. 3) when the firstand second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are configured orengaged to be moved along with each other. The movable cartridge storagearray 68 forms a part of the regular cartridge storage array of the datastorage system 16 when the drawer 20 is in the fully retracted or closedposition (i.e., with the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 in their respective first and third positions 46 and50, shown in FIG. 2). As used herein, the term “regular cartridgestorage array” refers to both the fixed cartridge storage array 66 andthe movable cartridge storage array 68. Put in other words, the drawer20 comprises a cartridge receiving device 72 that is accessible to thecartridge handling system 22 so that the data cartridges 18 carried bythe drawer 20 may be accessed by the cartridge handling system 22 duringthe normal or regular course of operation of the data storage system 16.

Before proceeding with the description, it should be noted that the datastorage system 16 may be provided with any convenient number of drawers20. For example, in the embodiment shown and described herein, the datastorage system 16 is provided with a single drawer 20. Alternatively,the data storage system 16 may be provided with a second drawer (notshown). However, since each drawer assembly may be substantiallyidentical, knowledge of the number of drawers that may be provided to aparticular data storage system 16 is not required to understand andpractice the present invention. Consequently, the remainder of thedescription will be directed to a data storage system 16 having only asingle drawer 20.

Continuing now with the description, the drawer 20 utilized in onepreferred embodiment of the invention may be formed by first and secondcartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 which define the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26, respectively. See FIG. 7.Each of the data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 may be configuredto removably receive a cartridge magazine 28 (e.g., 30 and 32) in themanner best seen in FIG. 7. Each cartridge magazine 28 in turn may beconfigured to receive five (5) data cartridges 18, although cartridgemagazines 28 configured to receive a greater number or lesser number ofdata cartridges 18 may also be used.

The first and second cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 may eachcomprise generally rectangularly shaped members. More specifically, thefirst magazine tray 116 may comprise a floor section 120, a back surface122, and an end wall 124. The various components 120, 122, and 124 ofthe first cartridge magazine tray 116 define the first data cartridgestorage location 24. As explained in greater detail below, the floorsection 120 may be mounted to the first guide rail 38.

The second cartridge magazine tray 118 may comprise a floor section 126,a back surface 128, and opposed end walls 130 and 132, which define thesecond data cartridge storage location 26. The floor section 126 may beto the second guide rail 40. The end wall 130 of the second magazinetray 118 may be provided with a spring biasing member (not shown) thatmay be used to urge the second cartridge magazine 32 against the secondend wall 132. The end wall 124 of the first cartridge magazine tray 116may also be provided with a spring biasing member 134 that may be usedto urge the first cartridge magazine 30 against the end wall or centerdivider section 132 of the second cartridge magazine tray 118 when thedata cartridge exchange apparatus 10 is in the first configuration 12(i.e., with the trays 116 and 118 positioned adjacent one another).

The opposed sides of the center divider section 132 may each be providedwith elongate rails 136 that are sized to engage slots or grooves 138provided on the first and second cartridge magazines 30 and 32. See FIG.7. The ends wall 124 of tray 116 and the end wall 130 of tray 118 mayalso each be provided with an elongate rail (not shown) sized to engagethe slots 138 of the magazines 30 and 32, respectively. The slots 138may engage the elongate rails 136 when the cartridge magazines 30 and 32are positioned within the respective first and second data cartridgestorage locations 24 and 26. Engaging the slots 138 with the elongaterails 136 helps prevent the cartridge magazines 30 and 32 from moving orshifting when the cartridge access device 88 inserts or removes datacartridges 18 into and from the cartridge magazine 30 and 32.

To orient and maintain the proper location of the first cartridgemagazine 30 to the first cartridge magazine tray 116, the floor section120 of tray 116 may be provided with a pin or rod 142 that is sized toengage an aperture or hole (not shown) provided on a bottom surface ofthe first cartridge magazine 30. In other words, engaging the pin 142with the aperture of the first cartridge magazine 30 ensures that thefirst cartridge magazine 30 is guided or moved along with the firstmagazine tray 116 when the first magazine tray 116 is moved.Alternatively, other methods and arrangements are possible as would beobvious to persons having ordinary skill in the art after having becomefamiliar with the teachings of the present invention.

The cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 may be made from any of a widerange of materials, such as metals or plastics, suitable for theintended application. By way of example, in one preferred embodiment,the magazine trays 116 and 118 are molded as a single piece from a fiberreinforced polycarbonate plastic material. The cartridge magazines 28(e.g., 30 and 32) may also be made from any of wide range of materials,depending on the requirements of the particular application. By way ofexample, the cartridge magazines 28 utilized in one preferred embodimentare also molded from a fiber reinforced polycarbonate plastic material.

Before proceeding with the description, it should be noted that in theembodiment shown and described herein, the first and second cartridgemagazines 30 and 32 carried by the trays 116 and 118 forming drawer 20are identical to the cartridge magazines 28 located adjacent the firstside portion 76 of the cartridge handling system 22, although this isnot necessary. Accordingly, the cartridge magazines 30 and 32 receivedby the drawer 20 comprise a cartridge receiving device 72 that isaccessible to the cartridge handling system 22 during the normal orregular operation of the data storage system 16 (FIG. 2) (i.e., when thefirst and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in theirfirst and third positions 46 and 50, respectively). However, otherarrangements are possible. For example, the drawer 20 could beconfigured to directly receive one or more data cartridges 18 (i.e.,without the need for a separate cartridge magazine 28). In still anotherconfiguration, the drawer 20 could comprise a hybrid arrangement, withcertain areas of the drawer 20 being configured to directly receiveindividual data cartridges 18 and with other areas of the drawer 20being sized to receive a cartridge magazine or magazines 28 (e.g.,cartridge magazine 30 or 32). Consequently, the present invention shouldnot be regarded as limited to the particular configuration of the drawer20 shown and described herein.

The drawer 20 may also be provided with a front panel member or bezel62. See FIG. 1. The front panel member 62 may be attached directly tothe first guide rail 38 of the mounting system 36 which is used to mountthe drawer 20 to the data storage system 16. Alternatively, the frontpanel member 62 may be attached to the first magazine tray 116 or maycomprise an integral portion of the first magazine tray 116. The frontpanel member 62 forms a part of the front panel or bezel 144 of the datastorage system 16 when the drawer 20 is in the fully retracted position(i.e., first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 arepositioned within the housing 70 of data storage system 16 in theirrespective first and third positions 46 and 50). The front panel member62 also provides a convenient means for allowing the system operator tomanually pull open the drawer 20.

The first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 may beoperatively associated so that they may be moved along with each otheras a single unit. The first and second data cartridge storage locations24 and 26, however, may also be movable with respect to each other sothat the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 defines a plurality ofconfigurations (e.g., the first configuration 12 and the secondconfiguration 14). That is, in the embodiment shown and describedherein, the system operator may reconfigure the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10 by moving the first data cartridge storage location 24either toward or away from the second data cartridge storage location26. For example, the system operator may position the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 adjacent one another therebydefining the first configuration 12 for the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10. See FIGS. 2, 3 and 7. Alternatively, the system operatormay separate the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24and 26 by the spaced distance 34 thereby defining the secondconfiguration 14 for the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10. See FIG.4. It is generally preferred, but not required, that the spaced distance34 be dimensioned large enough so that the data cartridges 18 within thesecond data cartridge storage location 26 are able to remain stationarywithin the data storage system 16 (e.g., the third position 50) eventhough the data cartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storagelocation 24 are moved to a position (e.g., the second position 48)outside the housing 70 of data storage system 16.

To allow the system operator to access the first and second cartridgemagazines 30 and 32 when positioned within the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26, respectively, the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10 may be operatively associated with the datastorage system 16 so that the first and second data cartridge storagelocations may be moved into and out of the housing 70 of data storagesystem 16. In the embodiment shown and described herein, the first andsecond cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118, forming drawer 20, may beslidably mounted to the chassis 70 of data storage system 16 by themounting system 36.

The mounting system 36 that may be used to mount the drawer 20 to thedata storage system 16 may comprise a first guide rail 38 mounted to thefirst cartridge magazine tray 116, a second guide rail 40 mounted to thesecond cartridge magazine tray 118, a third guide rail 42 sized toengage the first and second guide rails 38 and 40, and a fourth guiderail 44 mounted to the chassis 70 of data storage system 16. See FIGS.7–16. The first and second guide rails 38 and 40 may each be mounted insliding engagement with the third guide rail 42, which in turn may bemounted in sliding engagement with the fourth guide rail 44. The slidingengagement of the various rails 38, 40, 42, and 44 allows the drawer 20(i.e., both data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26) to be slidablymoved between the retracted position (FIG. 2) and the extended or openposition (FIG. 3). More specifically, the sliding engagement of thevarious rails 38, 40, 42, and 44 allows the first cartridge magazinetray 116 to be slidably moved generally in the directions indicated byarrows 54 and 56 between the first and second positions 46 and 48 andalso allows the second cartridge magazine tray 118 to be slidably movedgenerally in the directions indicated by arrows 54 and 56 between thethird and fourth positions 50 and 52. See FIGS. 2 and 3. As mentionedearlier, the first and third positions 46 and 50 may each be locatedwithin the data storage system 16 so that the data cartridges 18 withinthe first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 arewithin the data storage system 16 when the first and second datacartridge locations 24 and 26 are in their respective first and thirdpositions 46 and 50. See FIG. 2. The second and fourth positions 48 and52 may be located outside the data storage system 16 so that the datacartridges 18 within the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 are exposed to the system operator when the firstand second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in theirrespective second and fourth positions 48 and 52. See FIG. 3.

The first guide rail 38 is best seen in FIG. 9 and may comprise a firstelongate member 146 and a second elongate member 148. The secondelongate member 148 may be mounted to and extend outwardly from an endportion 150 of the first elongate member 146. Alternatively, the firstguide rail 38 may comprise a single member (not shown).

The first elongate member 146 of guide rail 38 may include a backportion 152 from which extend a pair of flanges 154 and 156. A firstbearing track 158 extends generally outwardly from the flange 154 and,together with the flange 154 and back portion 152, defines a firstchannel 160. Similarly, a second bearing track 162, extends generallyoutwardly from the flange 156 and, together with flange 156, defines asecond channel 164. The two bearing tracks 158 and 162 are substantiallyparallel to the back member 152.

The second elongate member 148 of first guide rail 38 may comprise agenerally rectangular cross-section sized to be received within thethird guide rail 42, although other shapes are possible. See FIGS. 9 and15. The second elongate member 146 may further include a stop pin 172mounted on an upper surface 174 of member 146 adjacent an end portion176 of the second elongate member 146. The stop pin 172 may be sized tofit within an elongate slot 178 defined by the third guide rail 42. Thestop pin 172 when engaged with the elongate slot 178 limits the extentto which the first guide rail 38 may be extended with respect to thethird guide rail 42. The second elongate member 148 may be mounted tothe end 150 of the first elongate member 146 with any of a wide range offasteners 170 (e.g., screws, rivets, adhesives, etc.), suitable for theintended application.

The second and fourth guide rails 40 and 44 are best seen in FIGS. 11and 13 and may each have a configuration that is substantially identicalto the configuration of the first elongate member 146 of first guiderail 38. More specifically, the second and fourth guide rails 40 and 44may each include a back portion 152 from which extend a pair of flanges154 and 156. A first bearing track 158 extends generally outwardly fromthe flange 154 and, together with the flange 154 and back portion 152,defines a first channel 160. Similarly, a second bearing track 162extends generally outwardly from the flange 156 and, together withflange 156, defines a second channel 164. The two bearing tracks 158 and162 are substantially parallel to the back member 152, as best seen inFIG. 13. A pair of U-shaped bearing members 166 may be provided withinthe channels 160 and 164 of the second and fourth guide rails 40 and 44at substantially the proximal end 168 of the second and fourth guiderails 40 and 44. See FIG. 11.

The third guide rail 42 is best seen in FIGS. 10, 12 and 14 and maycomprise a pair of elongate bearing guide members 180 and 182 held insubstantially parallel-spaced apart relation by a pair of flange members184 and 186. The portions of first bearing guide member 180 that areoutboard of the flange members 184 and 186 form bearing tracks 188 and190. Similarly, the portions of the second bearing guide member 182 thatare outboard of the flanges 184 and 186 form bearing tracks 192 and 194.The guide members 180 and 182, together with the first and second flangemembers 184 and 186, define respective first and second channels 196 and198.

The first bearing guide member 180 may define the elongate slot 178 thatis sized to receive the stop pin 172. The location of the elongate slot178 is such that the stop pin 172 provided on the second elongate member148 of first guide rail 38 will come into abutting contact with aproximal end 193 of the elongate slot 178 when the rails 38, 40, 42, and44 are in the fully retracted position. Conversely, the stop pin 172will come into abutting contact with a distal end 195 of the slot 178when the first rail 38 is in a fully extended position with respect tothe third guide rail 40. The foregoing arrangement prevents the systemoperator from inadvertently pulling the first magazine tray 116 beyondthe fully extended position (i.e., second position 48) and thereafterpossibly pulling apart or separating the first guide rail 38 from thethird guide rail 42.

The first and second bearing guide members 180 and 182, together withthe flanges 184 and 186, may define an interior pathway 199 sized toreceive the second elongate member 148 of first guide rail 38. Thepathway 199 may include a channel portion 201 that is defined by thesecond bearing guide member 182 and the flanges 184 and 186. The channelportion 201 may extend longitudinally from a distal end 202 of the thirdguide rail 42 to about a center region 200 of the third guide rail 42.When the second elongate member 148 of the first guide rail 38 isengaged with the pathway 199, the second elongate member 148 helps guidethe first rail 38 when it is being extended or moved along the thirdguide rail 42.

The bearing guide members 180 and 182 of guide rail 42 may be providedwith a plurality of U-shaped bearing members 166 located substantiallyin the positions shown in FIG. 12. More specifically, a total of fourbearings 166 may be affixed to the lower bearing tracks 192 and 194: Twobearings 166 at about the proximal end 197, and two bearings 166 atabout the center region 200 of guide rail 42. Similarly, a total of fourbearings 166 may be affixed to the upper bearing tracks 188 and 190: Twobearings 166 at about the center region 200 and two bearings 166 atabout the distal end 202 of guide rail 42.

The guide rails 38, 40, 42, and 44 may be made from any of a wide rangeof materials (such as metals or plastics) suitable for the intendedapplication. Consequently, the present invention should not be regardedas limited to guide rails being fabricated from any particular material.By way of example, in one preferred embodiment, the guide rails 38, 40,42, and 44 are formed from extruded aluminum. The bearing members 166may also be made from a wide range of materials suitable for providing alow friction sliding engagement with the guide rails 38, 40, 42, and 44.By way of example, in the embodiment shown and described herein, eachbearing member 166 is molded as a single piece of polythalamide plastic.Alternatively, other types of bearings, such as wheels or rollers, couldbe substituted for the sliding bearings 166 shown and described herein.

The various guide rails 38, 40, 42, and 44 may be slidably engaged withone another in the manner best seen in FIGS. 8, 15 and 16. That is, thechannels 160 and 164 of the second guide rail 40 and of the firstelongate member 146 of the first guide rail 38 receive the bearingmembers 166 mounted to the bearing guide member 180 of the third guiderail 42. The channels 160 and 164 of the fourth guide rail 40 receivethe bearing members 166 mounted to the bearing guide member 182 of thethird guide rail 42. The U-shaped bearings 166 located in the channels160 and 164 of the second and fourth guide rails 40 and 42 engage thebearing guide members 180 and 182, respectively, of the third guide rail42.

The locations of the U-shaped bearings 166 on the second, third andfourth guide rails 40, 42, and 44 are such that the U-shaped bearings166 located in the channels 160 and 164 of the second and fourth guiderails 40 and 42 will come into abutting contact with the U-shapedbearing members 166 affixed to the bearing guide members 180 and 182,respectively, of the third guide rail 42 when the rails 38, 40, 42, and44 are in the fully extended position illustrated in FIG. 8. Morespecifically, the bearings 166 located on the lower or fourth guide rail44 will come into abutting contact with the bearings 166 on the lowerbearing tracks 192 and 194 that are located in the center region 200 ofthe third guide rail 42. Similarly, the bearings 166 located on thesecond guide rail 40 will come into abutting contact with the bearings166 on the upper bearing tracks 188 and 190 that are located in thecenter region 200 of the third guide rail 42. The foregoing bearingarrangement prevents the system operator from inadvertently pulling thefirst and second cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118, forming drawer20, beyond their extended positions (i.e., second and fourth positions48 and 52) and thereafter possibly pulling apart or separating thesecond, third and fourth guide rails 40, 42 and 44.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the first elongate member 146 of first guiderail 38 and the second guide rail 40 may each be provided with one ormore mounting holes or slots 204 to allow the respective first andsecond cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 to be mounted thereupon. Thefourth guide rail 44 may also be provided with one or more mountingholes or slots 204 to allow the fourth guide rail 44 to be mounted tothe chassis 70 of data storage system 16. For example, in one preferredembodiment, the fourth guide rail 44 is mounted directly to the chassis70 of data storage system 16 by a plurality of screws (not shown).Similarly, the cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 may be mounteddirectly to the first and second guide rails 38 and 40, respectively,also by a plurality of screws (not shown). Alternatively, other types offasteners now known in the art or that may be developed in the futuremay be used to mount the fourth guide rail 44 to the chassis 70 and tomount the cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118 to the respective firstand second guide rails 38 and 40.

To allow the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26to either be moved along with each other (i.e., as a single unit) orindividually with respect to the other (i.e., as separate units), thefirst and second guide rails 38 and 40 may be releasably engaged withone another. That is, the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 may be movable as one unit when the guide rails 38and 40 are engaged but may be movable with respect to each other whenthe guide rails 38 and 40 are disengaged and the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are not otherwise engaged. Forexample, in one embodiment, the lock assembly 58 (FIG. 17) may beprovided that is usable to secure the first guide rail 38 to the secondguide rail 40. With the first and second guide rails 38 and 40 securedto each other by the lock assembly 58, the first data cartridge storagelocation 24 may be moved together with the second data cartridge storagelocation 26. In other words, the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 may both be positioned outside the data storagesystem 16 when the drawer 20 is opened. However, when the first andsecond guide rails 38 and 40 are not secured to each other and the firstand second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are not otherwiseengaged, the first data cartridge storage location 24 may be movedindependently from the second data cartridge storage location 26, andthe system operator is able to position the first data cartridge storagelocation 24 outside the data storage system 16 without moving the seconddata cartridge storage location 26 from its third position 50 within thedata storage system 16. By doing so, the system operator will be able toaccess the data cartridges 18 positioned within the first data cartridgestorage location 24 without rendering the data cartridges 18 within thesecond data cartridge storage location 26 inaccessible to the datastorage system 16.

The lock assembly 58 utilized in one preferred embodiment may comprise alock member or latch pawl 206 that is movable between a locked position208 and an unlocked position (not shown). As shown in FIG. 17, the lockmember 206 may secure the first guide rail 38 to the second guide rail40 when the lock member 206 is in the locked position 208. The lockmember 206 may be provided with a suitable biasing device, such as aspring (not shown), to bias the latch pawl 206 in the locked position208. The latch pawl 206 may be pivotally mounted to the second guiderail 40 with a pawl pivot 212 so that the latch pawl 206 may be rotatedor pivoted about axis 214 between the locked position 208 and theunlocked position. Alternatively, other mounting arrangements arepossible.

The latch pawl 206 may be sized to engage a notch 215 provided on thefirst elongate member 146 of the first guide rail 38. When the latchpawl 206 is in the locked position 208, the latch pawl 206 is engagedwith the notch 215 and thus secures the first guide rail 38 to thesecond guide rail 40.

The lock member 206 may be fabricated from any of a wide range ofmaterials suitable for the intended application. By way of example, inone preferred embodiment, the lock member 206 is fabricated from sheetmetal, although other materials could be used.

A lock actuator 216 may be also be mounted to the second guide rail 40and be used to pivot the latch pawl 206 about axis 214 between thelocked position 208 to the unlocked position. By way of example, in onepreferred embodiment, the lock actuator 216 is provided with a plunger218 that is operatively associated with the latch pawl 206. That is, thelock actuator 212 moves the plunger 214, which in turn pivots the latchpawl 206 about axis 214.

A lock control system 220 may be provided that is used to operate thelock actuator 216. The lock control system 220 may be responsive to thehost computer system, the control system contained within the datastorage system 16, and/or the system operator via the control panel 64and may receive commands therefrom to actuate the lock actuator 216 andrelease the first and second guide rails 38 and 40.

The various components of the lock assembly 58 may comprise any of awide range of devices and systems well-known in the art and that arereadily commercially available. For example, the lock actuator 216 maycomprise an electrically operated solenoid having a plunger 218operatively associated with the latch pawl 206. In the embodiment shownand described herein, the latch pawl 206 is biased in the lockedposition 208 by a suitable spring (not shown). Consequently, energizingthe solenoid will pull or move the plunger 218 which in turn rotates thelatch pawl 206 about the axis 214 to the unlocked position thusreleasing the first guide rail 38 from the second guide rail 40. Ofcourse, other types of components and operating arrangements could alsobe used, as would be obvious to persons having ordinary skill in theart.

In an alternative embodiment, an arm assembly or elongate member 222 maybe provided that is movably mounted to the first elongate member 146 ofthe first guide rail 38 so that the arm assembly 222 may be movedbetween a locked position 224 and an unlocked position (not shown). SeeFIG. 18. More specifically, in one preferred embodiment, the armassembly 222 is mounted to the first elongate member 146 of the firstguide rail 38 with rail supports 226 so that the arm assembly 222 may berotated about an axis 227 between the locked position 224 and theunlocked position. The arm assembly 222 may be provided with a firstfinger assembly or cam 228 that is sized to engage a first notch 229provided on the second guide rail 40. The arm assembly 222 may also beprovided with a second finger assembly or cam 230 that is sized toengage a second notch 231 provided on the first elongate member 146 ofthe first guide rail 38. The first and second finger assemblies 228 and230 engage the first and second notches 229 and 231, respectively, whenthe arm assembly 222 is in the locked position 224 to secure the firstguide rail 38 to the second guide rail 40.

In yet another alternative, the data cartridge storage locations 24 and26 themselves may be releasably engaged with one another instead ofbeing engaged by way of the engagement of the first and second guiderails 38 and 40. For example, in one embodiment, a lock assembly orapparatus 232 (FIG. 19) may be provided that is usable to releasablyengage the first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26.More specifically, the lock assembly 232 utilized in one preferredembodiment may comprise a lock actuator 234 for moving a lock bolt orplunger 236 between an unlocked position 238 and a locked position 240.A spring (not shown) may be used to bias the lock bolt 236 in theunlocked position 238. The lock bolt 236 is sized to engage at least oneaperture 242 provided in a lock plate 244. A limit switch 246operatively associated with the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 may be provided that detects when the first andsecond data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are positionedadjacent (e.g., in the first and third positions 46 and 50) and thensends a signal to a lock control system 248. In response, the lockcontrol system 248 may operate the lock actuator 234 to secure the firstdata cartridge storage location 24 to the second data cartridge storagelocation 26. Alternatively, the lock control system 248 may operate thelock actuator 234 in response to instructions entered by the systemoperator into the host computer system or the control panel 64 of thedata storage system 16.

The lock plate 244 may comprise a portion of or be mounted on the firstcartridge magazine tray 116 with the lock actuator and bolt 234, 236being provided on the second cartridge magazine tray 118. The limitswitch 246 may be mounted underneath the floor section 126 of secondtray 118 and be substantially aligned with a member 250 extendingdownwardly from the floor section 120 of first tray 116. Alternatively,other mounting arrangements are possible as would be obvious to personshaving ordinary skill in the art after having become familiar with theteachings of the present invention.

The various components of the lock assembly 232 may comprise any of awide range of devices and systems well-known in the art and that arereadily commercially available. For example, the lock actuator 234 maycomprise an electrically operated solenoid having a plunger 236 sized toengage the hole 242 provided in lock plate 244. The lock bolt 236 may bebiased in the unlocked position 238 by a suitable spring (not shown)such that energizing the solenoid will move the lock bolt 236 to thelocked position 240 thus releasably engaging the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26. Of course, other types ofcomponents and operating arrangements could also be used, as would beobvious to persons having ordinary skill in the art.

As mentioned briefly above, it is generally preferred, but not required,that the data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 be provided with a drawerlock assembly or apparatus 60 (FIG. 20) to hold the drawer 20 in thefully retracted position (FIG. 2) when the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are engaged or to hold the seconddata cartridge storage location 26 stationary in its third position 50when the first data cartridge storage location 24 is being moved. Bykeeping the second data cartridge storage location 26 stationary in itsthird position 50, the cartridge handling system 22 is able to accessthe data cartridges 18 within the second data cartridge storage location26 even if the system operator has moved the first data cartridgestorage location 24 and is accessing the data cartridges 18 therein. SeeFIG. 4.

The drawer lock assembly 60 utilized in one embodiment may comprise alock actuator 254 for moving a lock bolt or plunger 256 between a lockedposition 258 and an unlocked position 260. See FIG. 20. A spring (notshown) may be used to bias the lock bolt 256 in the unlocked position260. The lock bolt 256 may be sized to engage at least one aperture 262provided in a lock plate 264 affixed to the second cartridge magazinetray 118. A limit switch 266 may be mounted to the chassis 70 of datastorage system 16 and may provide a signal to a lock control system 268when the second data cartridge storage location 26 is positioned in itsthird position 50. The lock control system 268, in response thereto, mayoperate the lock actuator 254 to secure the second data cartridgestorage location 26 in the third position 50 or to secure the drawer 20in the fully retracted position (FIG. 2) when the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are engaged. Alternatively, thelock control system 268 may operate the lock actuator 254 in response toinstructions entered by the system operator into the host computersystem or the control panel 64 of the data storage system 16.

The various components of the drawer lock assembly 60 may comprise anyof a wide range of devices and systems well-known in the art and thatare readily commercially available. For example, the lock actuator 254may comprise an electrically operated solenoid having a plunger 256sized to engage the hole 262 provided in lock plate 264. In theembodiment shown and described herein, the lock bolt 256 is biased inthe unlocked position 260 by a suitable spring (not shown).Consequently, energizing the solenoid will move the lock bolt 256 to thelocked position 258 thus securing the second data cartridge storagelocation 26 in the third position 50 or securing the drawer 20 in thefully retracted position if the data cartridge storage locations 24 and26 are engaged. Of course, other types of components and operatingarrangements could also be used, as would be obvious to persons havingordinary skill in the art.

The data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 may be operatively associatedwith the control system contained within the data storage system 16 sothat control system will be able to determine when the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 have been moved from andreturned back to their respective first and third positions 46 and 50and can thus instruct the cartridge handling system 22 accordingly. Inother words, the control system will be able to determine when eitherthe first or second data cartridge storage location 24 or 26 has beenmoved so that it does not issue commands for the cartridge handlingsystem 22 to access the data cartridges 18 within the data cartridgestorage location 24 or 26 that has been moved until the respective datacartridge storage location 24 or 26 is returned to its appropriate placein the data storage system 16 (e.g., first or third position 46 or 50).In one embodiment, a drawer position sensor (not shown) may be providedthat sends signals to the control system of data storage system 16 thatare related to the respective positions of the data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26. For example, assuming that the first data cartridgestorage location 24 is moved from its first position 46, the drawerposition sensor may send a signal to the control system of data storagesystem 16 informing the control system that the data cartridges 18within the first data cartridge storage location 24 have been moved andare thus no longer accessible to the cartridge handling system 22. Uponthe return of the first data cartridge storage location 24 to its firstposition 46, the drawer position sensor may then inform the controlsystem that the first data cartridge storage location 24 has beenreturned to its first position 50 and is thus accessible to thecartridge handling system 22.

It is generally preferred, but not required, that the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10 be provided with a cartridge magazine alignmentapparatus 270 to provide more positive positioning of the first andsecond cartridge magazines 30 and 32 when the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in their respective first andthird positions 46 and 50. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 21, thecartridge magazine alignment apparatus 270 may comprise a pair ofelongate reference rails 272 and 274 which are mounted in spaced apartrelation to the chassis 70 of data storage system 16. Each cartridgemagazine 30 and 32 may be provided with first and second elongate slots276 and 278 therein which are sized to slidably engage the respectiveelongate reference rails 272 and 274 when the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are moved to their respectivefirst and third positions 46 and 50 (i.e., when the drawer 20 is movedto the fully retracted position). The engagement of the elongatereference rails 272 and 274 with the respective slots 276 and 278 in themagazines 30 and 32 slightly lifts the magazines 30 and 32 from thedrawer 20 and holds each magazine 30 and 32 in a registration position280, as best seen in FIG. 21. Consequently, when the first and seconddata cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are in their respective firstand third positions 46 and 50, the positions of the first and secondcartridge magazines 30 and 32 are determined by the cartridge magazinealignment apparatus 270 and not by the first and second data cartridgestorage locations 24 and 26.

The cartridge magazine alignment apparatus 270 more accurately positionsthe cartridge magazines 30 and 32 than would normally be possible if thecartridge magazines 30 and 32 were to remain seated in the first andsecond cartridge magazine trays 116 and 118, respectively. The moreaccurate positioning provided by the cartridge magazine alignmentapparatus 270 substantially improves the likelihood that the cartridgeaccess device 88 will be capable of engaging the selected data cartridge18 without mis-feeds. The arrangement also dispenses with the need toprovide a high precision drawer mounting system. That is, since thefirst and second magazines 30 and 32 are not held in position by therespective first and second data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26,the drawer 20 need not be designed to return the magazines 30 and 32 totheir exact locations each time the first and second data cartridgestorage locations 24 and 26 are returned to their respective first andthird positions 46 and 50.

The data cartridge exchange apparatus 10 may be used in the data storagesystem 16 as follows to allow the system operator to access various datacartridges 18 contained within the data storage system 16. Consider, forexample, a situation wherein the data storage system 16 has beenprovided with a plurality of data cartridges 18. During normaloperation, the drawer 20 may remain in the fully retracted or closedposition shown in FIG. 2, thereby allowing the cartridge handling system22 internal to the data storage system 16 to access all of the datacartridges 18 contained therein. If the need arises for the systemoperator to access the data cartridges 18 within the fully closed drawer20 (FIG. 2) (i.e., the first and second data cartridge storage locations24 and 26 are in their respective first and third positions 46 and 50)and assuming that the first and second data cartridge storage locations24 and 26 are engaged in one of the manners previously described herein(e.g., guide rail 38 is secured to guide rail 40 by the lock assembly 58shown in FIG. 17), the system operator may pull on the front panel 62 ofdrawer 20 to move the first and second data cartridge storage locations24 and 26 outside the data storage system 16 and thereby expose the datacartridges 18 within the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26. See FIG. 3. If the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10 was provided with a optional drawer lock assembly 60 (FIG.20), then the lock control system 268 associated with the drawer lockassembly 60 would first have to be instructed to unlock the drawer 20and do so before the drawer 20 was moved. The lock control system 268could be so instructed by the data storage system control system (notshown), or by the system operator via control panel 64 or the hostcomputer system to which the data storage system 16 is connected.

Once the drawer 20 has been opened or extended, the system operator mayaccess the exposed data cartridges 18 for the exchange, removal, orreplacement of the same. While the drawer 20 is in the extendedposition, the data storage system 16 may remain operable and thecartridge handling system 22 may continue to access the data cartridges18 stored in the fixed cartridge storage array 66. However, since all ofthe data cartridges 18 within drawer 20 were moved when the systemoperator opened the drawer 20, the fixed cartridge storage array 66comprises only those data cartridges 18 not stored in drawer 20. Inother words, the cartridge handling system 22 will not access any of thedata cartridges 18 within the drawer 20.

After the system operator has finished accessing the exposed datacartridges 18, the system operator may push on the front panel 62 ofdrawer 20 to return the first and second data cartridge storagelocations 24 and 26 to their respective first and third positions 46 and50 within the data storage system 16. See FIG. 2. As the first andsecond data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are being moved totheir respective first and third positions 46 and 50, the elongatereference rails 272 and 274 engage the respective slots 276 and 278 onthe cartridge magazines 30 and 32. When fully engaged with the slots 276and 278, the reference rails 272 and 274 slightly lift the magazines 30and 32 from the drawer 20 and hold each magazine 30 and 32 in theregistration position 280 as shown in FIG. 21. After the drawer 20 hasbeen fully closed, the system operator, the data storage system, or thelimit switch 266 may command the lock control system 268 associated withthe drawer lock assembly 60 to lock the drawer 20 in the fully closedposition (i.e., to lock the data cartridge storage locations 24 and 26in their respective first and third positions 46 and 50). See FIGS. 2and 20. In this example, the data storage system 16 would need tore-inventory all of the data cartridges 18 within the drawer 20.

Assuming now that the system operator wants to access just the datacartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location 24, thefirst data cartridge storage location 24 would first have to bedisengaged from the second data cartridge storage location 26. Forexample, in one embodiment, the lock control system 220 of lock assembly58 (FIG. 17) would first have to be instructed to release the firstguide rail 38 from the second guide rail 40 and do so before the firstdata cartridge storage location 24 is moved. The instructions to releasethe first guide rail 38 may be provided by the control system (notshown) contained within the data storage system 16, or by the systemoperator via control panel 64 or the host computer system. Once the datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 are disengaged, the systemoperator may pull on the front panel 62 to move the first data cartridgestorage location 24 outside the data storage system 16 so that the datacartridges 18 within the first data cartridge storage location 24 areexposed to the system operator. See FIG. 4.

As the system operator is accessing the data cartridges 18 within thefirst data cartridge storage location 24, the data storage system 16 mayremain operable and the cartridge handling system 22 may continue toaccess the data cartridges 18 stored in the fixed cartridge storagearray 66. In this example, however, the second data cartridge storagelocation 26 remained stationary in its third position 46 as did the datacartridges 18 therein when the first data cartridge storage location 24was moved by the system operator. Consequently, the cartridge handlingsystem 22 may continue to access the data cartridges 18 within thesecond data cartridge storage location 26, which may now be said tocomprise a portion of the fixed cartridge storage array 66. In otherwords, only those data cartridges 18 that were moved and made accessibleto the system operator (i.e., the data cartridges 18 within the firstdata cartridge storage location 24) were rendered inaccessible to thecartridge handling system 22.

After the user has finished accessing the first data cartridge storagelocation 24, the system operator may push on the front panel 62 toreturn the first data cartridge storage location 24 to its firstposition 46 adjacent the second data cartridge storage location 26. SeeFIG. 2. As the first data cartridge storage location 24 is being movedto its first position 46, the elongate reference rails 272 and 274engage the slots 276 and 278 of the first cartridge magazine 30. Whenfully engaged with the slots 276 and 278, the reference rails 272 and274 slightly lift the magazine 30 from the drawer 20 and hold themagazine 30 in the registration position 280 as shown in FIG. 21. Afterthe first data cartridge storage location 24 has been returned to itsfirst position 46, the lock control system 220 of lock assembly 58 mayoperate the lock actuator 216 to secure the first guide rail 38 to thesecond guide rail 40 so that the first data cartridge storage location24 may be moved along with the second data cartridge storage location 26and/or so that the first data cartridge storage location 24 is securedin its first position 46 by the drawer lock assembly 60 via the seconddata cartridge storage location 26. In this example, the data storagesystem 16 would need to re-inventory only the data cartridges 18 withinthe first data cartridge storage location 24.

In the embodiment shown and described herein the data cartridge exchangeapparatus 10 is configured so that the various data cartridges 18carried by the drawer 20 are contained within one or more cartridgemagazines 28 (e.g., first and second cartridge magazine 30 and 32) whichmay be removed or replaced in their entirety. That is, the entire firstand second magazines 30 and 32 may be removed by the system operator,thereby allowing for the convenient exchange, removal, or replacement ofthe plurality of data cartridges 18 contained within the cartridgemagazines 30 or 32. The cartridge magazines 30 and 32 may each beprovided with a handle 282 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to allow each of them to beconveniently carried by the system operator.

It should be noted that any of the data cartridges 18 contained withinthe data storage system 16 may be accessed via the data cartridgeexchange apparatus 10. For example, the data cartridges 18 stored in thecartridge magazines 28 that are positioned in the fixed cartridgestorage array 66 (FIG. 3) located opposite the drawer 20 also may beaccessed by instructing the cartridge handling system 22 to move theselected data cartridges 18 from the fixed cartridge storage array 66 tothe movable cartridge storage array 68 (e.g., the first and second datacartridge storage locations 24 and 26 when the first guide rail 38 issecured to the second guide rail 40). After the selected data cartridges18 have been transferred from the fixed cartridge storage array 66 tothe movable cartridge storage array 68, the system operator may accessthe transferred data cartridges 18 in the manner already described.Alternatively, if the data storage system 16 is provided with a seconddrawer, the system operator may access the data cartridges contained inthe second drawer in the manner already described for the first drawer20.

It is contemplated that the inventive concepts herein described may bevariously otherwise embodied and it is intended that the appended claimsbe construed to include alternative embodiments of the invention exceptinsofar as limited by the prior art.

1. Data cartridge exchange apparatus used in a data storage system, saiddata cartridge exchange apparatus comprising a moveable cartridgestorage array having at least a first data cartridge storage locationand a second data cartridge storage location, said first data cartridgestorage location being operatively associated with said second datacartridge storage location so that said first data cartridge storagelocation is independently moveable with respect to said second datacartridge storage location when said second data cartridge storagelocation is accessible by the data storage system.
 2. The data cartridgeexchange apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first data cartridge storagelocation is accessible by the data storage system when said first datacartridge storage location is in a first position with respect to saidsecond data cartridge storage location and wherein said first datacartridge storage location is accessible by a system operator when saidfirst data cartridge storage location is in a second position withrespect to said second data cartridge storage location.
 3. The datacartridge exchange apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second datacartridge storage location is accessible by the data storage system whensaid second data cartridge storage location is in a third position andwherein said second data cartridge storage location is accessible by asystem operator when said second data cartridge storage location is in afourth position.
 4. The data cartridge exchange apparatus of claim 1,wherein said first data cartridge storage location is releasablyengageable with said second data cartridge storage location so that saidfirst data cartridge storage location is in a first position withrespect to said second data cartridge storage location when said firstdata cartridge storage location is engaged with said second datacartridge storage location and so that said first data cartridge storagelocation is in a second position with respect to said second datacartridge storage location when said first data cartridge storagelocation is disengaged from said second data cartridge storage location.5. The data cartridge exchange apparatus of claim 4, wherein said firstdata cartridge storage location is slidably mounted to said second datacartridge storage location.
 6. A data cartridge exchange apparatus usedin a data storage system, said data cartridge exchange apparatuscomprising a moveable cartridge storage array having at least a firstdata cartridge storage location and a second data cartridge storagelocation, said moveable cartridge storage array being operativelyassociated with the data storage system so that said moveable cartridgestorage array is moveable with respect to said data storage system, saidfirst data cartridge storage location being operatively associated withsaid second data cartridge storage location so that said first datacartridge storage location is independently moveable with respect tosaid second data cartridge storage location when said second datacartridge storage location is accessible by the data storage system. 7.A data storage system, comprising: a cartridge handling system; a fixedcartridge storage array defining at least one data cartridge storagelocation, said fixed cartridge storage array being mounted within saiddata storage system so that said at least one data cartridge storagelocation can be accessed by said cartridge handling system; and amoveable cartridge storage array defining at least a first datacartridge storage location and a second data cartridge storage location,said first data cartridge storage location being independently moveablewith respect to said second data cartridge storage location so that saidfirst data cartridge storage location can be moved with respect to saidsecond data cartridge storage location between a first position and asecond position, said moveable cartridge storage array being moveablewith respect to said data storage system between a retracted positionand an extended position so that at least said second cartridge storagelocation can be accessed by said cartridge handling system when saidmoveable cartridge storage array is in the retracted position.
 8. Thedata storage system of claim 7, wherein said first data cartridgestorage location can be accessed by said cartridge handling system whensaid first data cartridge storage location is in the first position andwhen said moveable cartridge storage array is in the retracted position.9. The data storage system of claim 7, wherein said first data cartridgestorage location can be accessed by a system operator when said firstdata cartridge storage location is in the second position and when saidmoveable cartridge storage array is in the retracted position.
 10. Thedata storage system of claim 7, wherein said first data cartridgestorage location can be accessed by a system operator when said firstdata cartridge storage location is in both the first position and thesecond position and when the moveable cartridge storage array is in theextended position.
 11. The data storage system of claim 7, wherein saidfirst data cartridge storage location is releasably engageable with saidsecond cartridge storage location.
 12. The data cartridge exchangeapparatus of claim 7, wherein said first data cartridge storage locationis slidably mounted to said second data cartridge storage location.